Cord or rope machine.



i No. 693,887. (7 Patented Feb. 2 5, I902. Q

T. W. NORMAN.

CORD 0R ROPE MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1895. Rena wed June 8, 1901.) (No Model.) 2Sheets-Shdef l.

P) I Q) IQ I Q N1) O WITN E5555. 0 INVENT 12 7m 0 m 5 2 hm e .r d e t ne t a P N A M R 0 N W v 8 3 9 6 0 N 0on0 onfnoPa MACHINE. (Applicationand Nov. 4, 1895. Renewed June a, 1901.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modl.

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' PAT NT FFICE.

THOMAS W. NORMAN, OF'BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CORD OR ROPE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,887, dated February25, 1902.

7 Application filed November 4, 1895 Renewed \TuneB, 1901-. Serial No.63,799. (No model.)

To alt w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. NORMAN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Cord or Rope Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invent-ion has relation to machines for manufacturing cords,lines,twines, ropes, and

similar articles; and itis the purpose of theinvention, generallystated, to provide improvements in several parts or groups of parts ofthe machines mentioned with a View to rendering them completelypracticable and more eificient than heretofore.

Specific objects of the invention may be set forth as follows: first, toprovide such improvements in machines employed in the art beforespecified as will simplify the means for carrying the strand, cord, orrope through flier mechanism to effect the twist in thematerial,eliminating flier structure extending from end to end of the mechanism,thereby also facilitating access to the holders of the material undertreatment and their appurtenances and, furthermore, removing an elementof danger; second, to provide improved means whereby accuracy may besecured in the operation of the means for feeding forward or pullingdown the material or product being twisted or otherwise acted upon, soas to insure equality intwist foot for foot in any given length ofproduct, as also equality in length of the strands laid up foot for footin any given length of cord, line, or rope; third, to provide improvedmeans for balling or bundling the product of the machine, so that itshall be in convenient condition to be dealt within ordinary commercialor business transactions, and, fourth, to provide improved means forfrictionally controlling the Winding or spooling devices, so as toautomatically differentiate the speed of rotation of the spindle as theball or spool grows in diameter, thereby insuring uniformity in thewinding. Of the drawings which accompany and form part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of that part of amachine for making cords, lines, or ropes which effects the preliminarywork-i. e., that of forming the yarn into strandsand between which partof the machine and the part for the twisting-shafts c c.

effecting the final operations my improved pull-down operates. Fig. 2 isa sectional detail view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asectional side elevation of that part of the machine which effectsthe'final operations. Fig. f3 is a sectionaldetail view,drawn to anenlarged scale, showing my improved capstan or pull-down mechanism fordrawing off and feeding forward the product, said mechanism being alsoshown at the extreme left of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 3* and drawn to the same scale. Fig. 4is asectional detail View, drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating one formof my improved frictional means for controlling the winding on orspooling of the completed. article. Fig. 5 is asectional detail view inplan, illustrating my improved method and means for balling or bundlingthe product of the machine. Fig 6 is a side elevation of a ball of cordor rope, showingmy improved method of winding on the binding courses. 7I

In practice I have applied my invention herein described to differentforms of machines used in the art recited at the outset of thisspecification, and in adapting certain of the improvements to differentforms of machines I have found it desirable to change the arrangementand relationship of some of the parts, without, however, departing fromthe nature or spirit of the invention embodied therein. A clearunderstanding may be had of the invention, however,cby a description ofitas applied to one form of a cord, twine, or line making machine, inwhich the prod not is wound into a ball, and to this the descriptionhereinafter given will be for the most part confined.

In the drawings the reference-letter a, Fig. 1, designates so much of asuitable supporting-frame as it ,is deemed necessary to show; b,-acradle hung upon the ends of rotary twisting-shafts c 0, supported insuitable bearings on the frame a at opposite ends of the cradle b, and dd arms suitably counter-balanced and connected with and extending outfrom The outer ends of the said arms are made entirely free of anyconnecting device or mechanism, so that in making ready, as well as inthe operation of the machine, entire freedom of access may be had to theparts. e e are gears fixed to said shafts c c and rotated in unison bydriving-gears e e on a shaft 6 The cradle b is provided with a number ofupright spindlesf for the reception of spools of thread, yarn, strands,or other material to be twisted into a line, cord, or rope and may bemaintained in position to hold the spindles upright by gravity. Theyarns or strands are led from the spools and suitably guided to alaying-head, tension device, and forming-tube g, attached to cradle band shown in cross-section in Fig. 2, where by the rotation of the arms61 the yarns are laid up and twisted into a cord, line, or rope,whichpasses into a guiding-hole formed in the inner end of the shaft 0 at theleft in Fig. 1 and extending longitudinally of said shaft to a guidepulley or sheave h, said cord passing about the said pulley and to asimilar pulley t' on the outer end of an arm at and thence forward tosimilar guide pulleys or sheaves t' h, similarly positioned in the armat the oppo site end of the cradle. From the last-mentioned pulleys theline extends through a longitudinal guide-hole in the twisting-shaft cat this end of the cradle and is led from the outer end of the latter toa tubej, (see Fig. 3,) where the strands are laid into a rope. Said tubeis fastened in a frame a by means of a washer n and is embraced by onetrunnion or bearing of the pull-down frame It, the rope passing throughthe tube and thence over and around the capstans and roller of thepull-down. The latter may be revolved through any suitable connectionswith an active element of the machine, such as the adjacent shaft 0 orthe main driving-shaft, (not shown;) but I have found it desirable toconnect the pull-down frame to the twisting-shaft q, having gear to,whereby rotation is given to the same. A pair ofcircumferentially-grooved capstans Z and Z are journaled in the frame 7ctransversely thereof and spaced apart, and the rope engages the groovesin passing over and around these capstans; but it is to be noted thatthe depth of the seats of the grooves is less than their width, so thatthe rope will project beyond the peripheries of the capstans; By meansof a bevel-gearj on the inner end of tube j, an intermeshing bevel-gear0 on a stud in frame 7.:, a spur-gear o, compounded with bevel-gear o,spur-gears o 0 on the capstanjournals, and an intermediate gear 0 thecapstans Z Z are rotated on their own axes to give any desired speed orpull-down force to the said capstans as the line or rope is beingtwisted by shafts c c, Fig. 1, and shafts q q, Fig. 3, therebyregulating the number of twists per foot in the finished product. Tosecure an accurate hearing or grip of the rope on capstans l and Z, Iplace between them a loose roller m, and the rope or line by straddlingthis loose roller is carried nearly around the capstans ZZ, causing agreater grip on the same. The roller m is mounted loosely on a shaft 23,extending across the frame It, (see Figs. 3 and 3,) or, if preferred,said shaft could be loosely mounted in its bearings, thereby allowingthe roller to have a gripping effect on the cord as it is drawn aroundthe capstans ZZ and also allowing the said roller to be pushed away fromthe capstans when a lump or knot in the rope passes. The hollow form ofthe roller, furthermore, lightens the same, reducing force ofcentrifugal action, which might otherwise impair the binding effect ofthe loose roller. The roller m is preferably sufficiently smallrelatively to the capstans to bring its utmost outwardprojecting surfacewhen viewed from the end within the utmost similarly-projecting surfacesof the capstans when viewed from the same point, so that the cord orrope may after engaging one capstan, straddling the loose roller, andengaging the other capstan pass back to the first capstan withouttouching the roller in its passage thereover. Again, it is desirablethat the roller should be smallin order that the cord or rope passedpartially about the capstans and over the roller may under draft causethe roller to become wedged in between the capstans and bear hard uponthe cord or rope. In order to secure this wedging effect, at leastone-half of the roller when regarded as divided diametrically should beincluded within the space bounded by the peripheries of the capstans, aplane embracing the axes of the latter, and a plane tangential to theirperipheries. By so proportioning or arranging the capstans and roller asto secure this relation a wedg ing effect is produced which resists adraft upon the rope, such wedging effect being ob viously superior to asimple pinching of the rope. This form of pull-down is believed toaccomplish what has never before been accomplished in rope-making bymachineryviz., the absolutely accurate registering of the twisted strandor rope-i. e., the uniform pulling down of exactly the same extent oftwisted rope for every repetition of a specified number of rotations ofthe pull-down capstans and for every corresponding number of twistingrevolutions. This is of the utmost importance, since it insures absoluteuniformityin the product as to number of twists per unit of length, asto length measurement governed by known time and dimensions of machineelements, and as to character and weight. Obviously a pull-downoperating with such accuracy as does mine insures unvarying effects inthe treatment of the strands preparatory to ings on the frame a.

anism employed in conjunction with my form of pull-down is merelyrequired to perform the simple functions that its name impliesviz.,caring for the finished rope as it arrives-the additional functionheretofore required of the take-up mechanismviz., the exertion of aforce to maintain a powerful forward draft on the rope asitemerges fromthe pull-down being entirely eliminated.

The grooves which receive the rope that passes around the capstanscontrol and guide the rope so as to maintain it in proper position onthe capstans, while at the same time the character of the groovesinsures projection of the rope for the engagement therewith of the looseroller. The rope is preferably doubled in the pull-down, or, in otherwords, brought back to pass a second time through the same, and then itenters a guide-hole formed longitudinally in the twisting-shaft q and isfed forward to the completing and take-up or balling part of themachine, the said shaft being supported in suitable bear- From aguide-pulley r in a recess of the shaftqat the end of the saidguide-hole the rope passes to a pulley s at the outer end of an arm t,projecting laterally from said shaft. Thence the rope extends across toa guide-pulley u on the outer end of a similar arm t, projectingradially from a shaft q, companion to shaft q, and thence to a pulley oin a recess of the shaft q. Thence the cord or rope is guided inwardthrough this shaft to a balling device arranged and operated on a cradleI), supported between thetwisting-shafts q q, journaling on the innerends thereof. The twisting-shafts q q are rotated by gears tow, whichmay be driven similarly to gears e e on the shaft e Fig. 1..

The productin process of balling being suspended in cradle b, the ropepasses or is revolved entirely around the balling means and a doubletwist is given the rope in each revolution around the cradle.

The rope proceeding from the inner end of the twisting-shaft q, as shownin Fig. 3,passes through a guide-eye 00 on the'en'd of the extensihlepart y of a telescopic guide and laying finger z to a revoluble spool ofcop d, where it is laidup or wound into aball 2'. The fingerz isjournaled on an inclined pin or pintlef, the same being an angularprojection of a Vertical shaft (represented by dotted lines) and thelatter being revoluble in suitable bearings g on the cradle b andcompounded witha gear-wheel h atits base. The boss of the finger seatsupon an inclined shoulder g of the shaft, and it will be seen that asthe shaft and its angular pintle f are revolved the finger 2 will beraised and lowered in unison therewith. The gear h is connected by anidler-gear to gear-wheel t" on the base of cop d, and said gear h mayhave, say, one tooth less than gear 1'', so that the pintle will berotated and the guide-finger operated to lay each round of the cord orrope on theball alongside of the preceding round and not one round ontop of the other, as might be the tendency if the gears t and h had thesame number of teeth and were operated in the same time. It will beunderstood that the guide-finger is reciprooated up and down at eachrevolution of the cop d, and each traverse exceeds in extent thatnecessary to carry the rope from one end of the ball to the other. Thisoperation is necessary to effect balling of the product. By varying thesize of or number of the teeth on the gears h and i the balling meanscan be suited for work upon varying sizes of rope.

By the means described a perfect ball can be formed on the spindle d,which ball can be stripped or taken off and be in most acceptablecondition for commercial use, transportation, and storage.

lVhen the winding or formation of a ball has been so far completed as toprepare it for the outer or binding courses, the fingerz will belengthened, so as to increase its throw and lay the binding courses(shown at n in Fig. 6) on the ball, such binding courses extending overthe ends from top to bottom and at a different angle to the regularcourses, (represented by the lines e,) crossing each other substantiallyat right angles. This lengthening of the guiding and laying finger maybe accomplished automatically or by hand, the finger beingmade'extensible for that purpose.

Various forms of means may be provided for rendering the guiding andlaying finger extensible, that herein shown consisting of a tube orsleeve y, arranged to move, turn, as

well as slide on the guide-finger z, the guiding-eye a: on the fingerbeing located on the extensible part. The sleeve y is held normally backor in retracted position by abayonet lock or joint, a pin 0", secured inthe sleeve y, extending at its inner end into a slot p, formed on thebody of the finger 2, said slot having an angular part (not shown) intowhich the pin is turned or forced to hold the sleeve back against thetension of the spring 5, bearing thereon. ing courses are to be laid onthe ball, the pin 0 will be moved out of the angular part of the slot bythe turning of the sleeve and the latter will be pressed forward by thespring When the bind-.

'IIO

s to the position'shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, when the resultdescribed will be e'ffected by reason of the increased throw of thefinger.

As a means of rendering the finger automatically extensible I mayprovide a standard or rod it on the cradle 19, extending upward to aposition where when the ball is made sufficiently large (see Fig.5) theouter end of the pin 0 will strike the top of the standard or rod u andbe thrown out of the angular part of the slot, the extension of thefinger being then efiected by the spring.

The cop d is pinned to or otherwise rotatively connected at its basewiththe gearwheel 1;, the latter being rotatively connectedwithafriction-disk i just belowit, as is best seen in Fig. 4. Thegear-wheel and its disk are frictionally connected with a gear-wheel j",which is made cup-shaped, so that it may hold oil or any other suitablelubricating substance. In the cup-shaped part of the gearwheel j andaround its huh I place a plurality of metallic or other friction-disksor saw-plates 7t, superposed one upon another and surrounded by thefriction-disk z'" of the gear-wheel t". A bevel-gear g on the inner endof the twisting-shaftq meshes with a bevel-gearj on the upper end of ashaft supported in a bearing on the cradle b and carrying at itslowerend a spur-gear 7' connected through an idler j with the friction-gearj,the gears being so timed that cop (1 through its frictional gear 7; isoperated with a tendency to wind up the rope at a speed slightly aheadof the quantity fed forward by the capstans Z Z, The gearing is soproportioned also as to greatly reduce the speed of rotation of the copas compared with the speed of 1-0 tation of the flier-arms.

The cop d and adjuncts at its base are shown as turning on a spindle Zthe upper end of which is screw-threaded and provided with a nut orthumb-screw an, adapted to be turned down on the top of the cop d, andso cause the latter to be adjusted to the necessary resistance upon itsfrictional base 7c.

It will be seen that as the rope or cord is fed to cop d at a slowerspeed than the cop is geared to take it up the friction-disks it betweengears 1 and j" will be slightly operated upon; but as the cop becomesfilled and its circumference increases the speed of the rope passingaround capstansl Z does not increase. Hence cop cl and gear 7." mustslow down in speed. This I provide for in the frictional mechanismcontrived by me between the gears t" andj, it being understood from aninspection of Fig. 4 of the drawings that the former gear is driven fromthe latter solely through the frictional medium. It will be understoodthat the increased leverage of the cord attendant upon the increase indiameter of the ball increases the resistance to turning of the bobbin,and not only does this result in a slowing down of speed of the bobbin,but the cord is more tightly wound as the ball enlarges, which isdesirable in order that a marketable product may be insured.

The resistance to the turning of the gear 2" from the gear j" offered bythe superposed disks between the said gears (which disks are independentof any positive connection with the said gears) arises not only fromfriction between the disks, but apparently from suction due to thepresence of a copious supply of liquid lubricating substance in thedish-shaped gear j" as well. The function or mode of operation of thefriction mechanism mentioned has in actual practice and experiment beenfound to be such that an adjustment of the nut m on the spindle Z tosecure the desired friction or resistanceto movement between the disksat the start in windeeassv ing a ball, bobbin, cop, or spool will answerthe purpose throughout the performance of said work. Furthermore, afriction means of the kind described for all the work that is requiredof it will not generate heat to an objectionable degree, it beingunderstood that a suitable liquid lubricant will, as before stated, heintroduced freely to the surface of the disks. In actual practice withthe means and under the circumstances mentioned there is in effect anincrease of frictional and suctional resistance between the superposedplates in a ratio corresponding with the slowing down of the speed ofthe cop d. This is an important feature of the invention. This frictiondevice has been found by me from practical experience to be highlyserviceable and efficient in spooling or bundling rope as well as inballing and spooling twine and other lines, and I do not thereforeconfine this part of my invention to the particular use herein shown asmade of it, but may employ it wherever and in whatever connections andforms I may find it desirable.

The cradle b may, as before stated with reference to cradle b, bemaintained in proper position by gravity, or means may be employed, suchas shown in Fig. 3, wherein a gear 0; is shown as mounted upon the frameor other stationary part of the machine concentric with shaft q, and agear .2 of the same size and concentricity is mounted upon the cradle,and the shaft has an arm q" with a bearing at the end for acounter-shaft carrying gears y in mesh with gears v and a, re-

spectively, the said gears being uniform in size. This construction andarrangement of parts will obviously secure the maintenance of the cradleb in a stationary position.

By my invention I do away entirely with flier structure extending fromend to end of the twisting mechanism and secure the greatest degree ofsimplicity in the construction and mode of operation of the twistingmeans. I secure a maximum degree of twisting, a double twist being putinto each revolution of the arms dd, and, the same result ensuing ineach revolution of the arms't t, I economize space. The balling andbinding of the ball is effected in a novel, simple, and most efficientmanner. The tension on the product as it is being wound is secured byhighly serviceable means, which do not become heated in use and areautomatically regulated, and in general the entire machine is enhancedin points of simplicity,durability, and efficiency.

I claim- 1. ,A cord and rope making machine embodying inits'construction a hanging cradle and means therein for taking up andsupporting the product of the machine, revoluble arms free of connectingmeans between their ends, the cradle being provided with hollow journalsat its ends upon which .journals it is supported, the said cord and ropebeing adapted to be passed through the said hollow journals in oppositedirections to the take-up and provided with a guide-eye, and moreovermeans, means for revolving the arms in unison, and means carried by saidarms for guiding the material acted upon, whereby the latter is carriedaround the cradle and given a double twist at each revolution of thearms, while the cradle is held in fixed position.

2. A means for balling the product in a cord or rope making machine,embodying in its construction a rotary cop or bobbin, a rotary shaftprovided with an inclined pin or pintle, a yarn-guiding finger pivotedat one endupon the inclined pin or pintle, and having its other end freeof support or guiding means and provided with a guide-eye, and moreoverextended into proximity to the revoluble cop or. bobbin, whereby thematerial led to the cop may be guided thereon in the form of a ball'andthe lateral movements of the free end of the finger be controlled inaccordance with the size or diameter of the ball, substantially ashereinafter set forth.

3. A means for balling the product in a cord or rope making machine,embodying in its construction a rotary cop or bobbin, arotary shaftprovided with an inclined pin or pintle, a yarn-guidin g finger pivotedat one end upon the inclined pin or pintle, and having its other endfree of support or guiding means extended into proximity to therevoluble cop or bobbin, combinedwith means forrotating the said cop andshaft,'the one slightly out of time with the other to effect the layingof the different layers of cord or rope on different lines on the ballformed on the cop.

4. A cord or rope making machine embodying in its construction arevoluble cop or bobbin and a pivoted vibratory extensiblespring-pressed reciprocating finger for guiding the product to be woundor bailed upon the cop.

5. A friction device for controlling the tension of winding on, in cordor rope making machines, consisting of a cup-shaped driving means, aplurality of superposed disks or plates arranged in the same, a drivendevice positively connected with the top or covering plate, and throughthe latter and the said plurality of superposed disks or platesfrictionally connected with the said driving means.

6. A friction device for cord and rope making machines consisting of thedriving memher and the driven member, combined with a plurality of disksor plates superposed between said members and means for maintaining alubricant in connection with said members or disks.

7. A pull-down for cord and rope making machines comprising in itsconstruction two rotary capstans Z Z of relatively large diameter, and aroller m of relatively small diameter, having bodily movement,said smallroller being arranged between the capstans, and with the utmost line ofits projecting periphery below or within the plane of the utmost rotarycapstans Z Z of relatively large diameter provided with circumferentialgrooves in their faces for receiving and guiding the rope or cord, and aroller m of relatively small diameter, having bodily movement, saidsmall roller being arranged between the capstans,

and with the utmostline of its projecting periphery below or within theplane of the utmost lines of the projecting peripheries of the capstans,whereby a cord or rope may be passed about the capstans, and from one tothe other without coming into contact with the periphery-of the roller,and the rope or cord be alsopassed about the capstans and roller maydraw the latter down and wedge it between the capstans.

9. The combination,in a cord and rope making machine, of mechanism foreffecting preli minary work on the material being operated upon andmeans for completing the said work, of a pull-down arranged between thesaid mechanism and means to pull downthe work from the former and feeditv forward to the latter, the said pull-down comprising in itsconstruction two rotary capstans Z Z of relatively large diameter, and aroller'm of relatively small diameter, having bodily movement, saidsmall roller being arranged between. the capstans, and with the utmostline of its projecting periphery below or within the plane of the utmostlines of the projecting peripheries of the capstans, whereby. a cord orrope may be passed about the capstans, and from one to the ()therwithout coming into contact with the periphery of the roller, and therope or cord be also passed about the capstans and roller, may draw thelatter down and wedge it between the capstans.

10. A pull-down structure for rope-making machines, the same comprisinga pair of posi tively-driven capstans spaced apart, and aloosely-mounted intermediate roller at least one diametrical half ofwhich is included between aplane embracing the axes of the two capstansand a plane tangential to the peripheries of both of the latter wherebya rope passing between each capstan and the loose roller and straddlingthe latter will under draft be wedged between the peripheries of thecapstans and roller the latter being free to move bodily in and out,substantially as described. V A g 11. Apull-down structure forrope-making machines, the same comprising a pair of posi-' tively-drivencapstans spaced apart and en-' circled by grooves of greater width thanthe depth of their seats, and a loosely-mounted intermediate roller, therope passing between each capstan and the loose roller and straddlingthe latter while engaged with the grooves of the capstans whereby underdraft it will be gripped between the latter and the loose roller,substantially as described.

12. A pull-down structure for rope-making machines, the same comprisinga rotary twisting head or frame and driving means therefor, a pair ofpositively-driven capstans mounted transverselyin said frame and spacedapart, and a loosely-placed roller between the two capstans lighten edto reduce force of centrifugal action, the rope or strand passingbetweeneach capstan and the loose roller and straddling the latter,substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. In a machine of the character described the combination of aliningtwisting-shafts having central cord-passages and laterallyprojectingarms equipped with cord-guides at their extremities, between which thecord extends without other supports; means for rotating the shafts andarms in unison; and a cradle hung from the twisting-shafts and equippedwith cord-holding means, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for balling cord the combination of a rotary spindle onwhich the ball is made, a vibratory cord-guide located at one side ofsaid spindle to work longitudinally thereof, means for rotating thespindle, and means for vibrating the cord-guide timed to cause thelatter to traverse back and forth during one rotation of the spindle,substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. In a machine for balling cord the combination of a rotary spindle onwhich the ball is made, a vibratory cord-guide located at one side ofsaid spindle to work longitudinally thereof,means for rotating thespindle, means for vibrating the cord-guide timed to cause the latter totraverse back and forth during one rotation of the spindle, and meansfor increasing the traverse of the cord-guide when the ball reaches itsfull size, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a machine for balling cord the combination of a rotary spindle onwhich the ball is made, a vibratory cord-guide located at one side ofsaid spindle to work longitudinally thereof, means for rotating thespindle,means for vibrating the cord-guide timed to cause the latter totraverse back and forth during one rotation of the spindle, and meansfor automatically increasing the traverse of the cord-guide when theball reaches its full size, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

17. In a machine for balling cord the combination of a rotary spindle onwhich the ball is made, a swinging arm alongside said spindle and havinga cord-guide at its free end,

means for rotating the spindle and means for swinging the arm timed toproduce a to-andfro movement thereof during one rotation of the spindle,substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. In a machine for balling cord the combination of a rotary spindle onwhich the ball is made, an extensible swinging arm alongside saidspindle and having a cord-guide at its free end, meansfor rotating thespindle; and means for swinging the arm timed to produce a to-and-fromovement thereof dur-' ing one rotation of the spindle, substantially asand for the purpose described.

19. In a machine for balling cord the combination of a rotary spindle onwhich the ball is made, an extensible swinging arm alongside saidspindle and having a cord-guideat its free end, means for rotating thespindle, means for swinging the arm timed to produce a to-and-fromovement thereof during one rotation of the'spindle, and means forautomatically extending said arm when the ball attains a predeterminedsize, substantially as and for the purpose described.

20. In a machine for balling cord, the combination of a rotary spindleon which the ball is made,an extensible cord-guidin g arm alongside saidspindle adapted to move longitudinally thereof and also laterally withrespect thereto, means normally maintaining the cord-guiding armcontracted in length, and an abutment arranged to be encountered by saidmeans upon lateral movement of the arm produced by growth of the ball,substantially as and for the purpose described.

21. In a machine for balling cord, the combination of a rotary spindleon which the ball is made, a telescopic spring-distended cordguiding armhaving means normally rcstraining the spring and including alaterally-projecting member, said arm being mounted to swinglongitudinally of the spindle and also laterally with relation thereto;means for rotating the spindle; means for vibrating the armlongitudinally of the spindle; and an abutment for the projecting memberof the arm, spring restraining means to encounter when the arm is movedlaterally a predetermined extent by the inerease in size of the ball.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor pulling down and supplying or feeding a rope, cord or strand to atake-up mechanism at a fixed rate of speed; a rotary spindle aroundwhich the cord is wound; a flier structure receiving the cord axially ofitself from'the pull-down and delivering the cord axially of itself tothe spindle; a spindle-driving gear timed to turn the spindle fasterthan required to take up the cord; and frictional connecting meansbetween said gear and the spindle whereby the speed of rotation of thelatter will automatically comport with changing relations bescribed.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of meansfor pulling down and supplying or feeding a rope, cord or strand to atake-up mechanism at a fixed rate of speed;-a rotary spindle aroundwhich the cord is wound; a flier structure receiving the cord axially ofitself from the pull-down and delivering the cord axially of itself tothe spindle; means for revolving the flier structure; a spindle-drivinggear; speedsreducing gearing between the flier-driving means and saidspindle-driving gear whereby the latter is rotated at aconsiderably-reduced rate of speed as compared with the speed ofrotation of the flier structure; and frictional connecting means betweensaid'gear and the spindle whereby the speed of rotation of the latterwill automatically comport with changing relations between the diameterof the ball and the rate of cord-supply thereto, substantially asdescribed.

24. In a machine of the character described,the combination of means forpulling down. and supplying or feeding a rope, cord or strand to atake-up mechanism at a fixed rate of speed; a rotary spindle aroundwhich the cord is wound; a flier structure receiving the cord axially ofitself from the pull-down and delivering the cord axially ofitself tothe spindle; a spindle-driving gear timed to turn the spindle fasterthan required to take up the cord; frictional connecting means betweensaid gear and the spindle whereby the speed of rotation of the latterwill automatically comport with changing relations between the diameterof the ball and the rate of cordsupply thereto; and a rotary cord-guidealongside the spindle and movable longitudinally thereof, said guidebeing geared to the spindle directly so as to take its motion therefromwith differentiations effected through the frictional connections,substantially as described.

25. In a machine of the character described, the combination .of meansfor pulling down and supplying or feeding a rope, cord or strand to atake-up mechanism at a fixed rate of speed; a rotary spindle aroundwhich the cord is wound; a flier structure receiving the cord axially ofitself from the pull-down and delivering the cord axially of itself tothe spindle; a spindle-driving gear timed to turn the spindle fasterthan required to take up the cord; frictional connecting means betweensaid gear and the spindle whereby the speed of rotation of the latterwill automatically comport with changing relations between the diameterof the ball and the rate of cord-supply thereto; and a rotary cordgu-idealongside the spindle and movable longitudinally thereof, said guidebeing geared to the spindle directly so as to take its motion therefromwith differentiations effected through the frictional connections andthe gearing being timed to produce to-and-fro motion of the guide duringone rotation of the spindle.

26. A pull down structure for rope or strand making machines, the samecomprising a pair of positively-driven capstans or rolls, spaced apart,and an intermediate roll mounted for bodily movement in or out betweenthe two capstans or rolls, the rope or strand passing between eachcapstan and the bodily-movable roll and straddling the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing-witnesses, this 21st day of October, A. D.1895.

THOMAS W. NORMAN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLEY, O. O. STECHER.

